Corner sweeping means for clarification basins



June 5, 1956 A. A. KALlNsKE 2,748,944

CORNER SWEEPING MEANS FOR CLARIFICATION BASINS 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMay 3, 1954 )Vrije/he June 5, 1956 K A. A. KALlNsKE CORNER SWEEPINGMEANS FOR CLARIFICATION BASINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1954 June5, 1956 A, A. KALINSKE 2,748,944

CORNER SWEEPING MEANS FOR CLARIFICTION BASINS Filed May 3, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 3 P/'Ycfre 4 United States Patent liice ,.emed ne 5, 5,

CORNER SWEEPING MEANS FOR CLARIFICA- TION BASINS Anton A. Kalinske,Tucson, Ariz., assigner to Intilco Incorporated, Tucson, Ariz., acorporation of Delaware Application May 3, 1954, Serial No. 427,170

7 Claims. (Cl. 210-55) This invention relates to a noncircular, corneredliquid treating basin, such as a clarification basin, wherein one ormore liquid distributing conduits or arms are rotatable about the basinaxis, and more particularly to means for keeping the portions of thebasin outside the circular area over which the arms travel free ofdeposit.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of the typereferred to which is simple and economical in construction and eiiicientin operation.

Another object is to provide hydraulic means for sweeping free ofdeposits the portions of a tank outside the rotary path of travel of therotating distributing conduits.

Another object is to provide a device for hydraulically cleaning thecorner areas of a square tank.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic corner-sweeping device which isautomatically actuated when its associated distributing conduit or armapproaches a corner area, and automatically stopped when the conduittravels along, and in proximity to, a wall of the tank or basin.

Other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the detaileddescription and of the claims which follow.

In liquid treating basins utilizing rotating distributing conduits orarms for uniform distribution of the liquid entering for treatment, thebottom area subjacent the path of travel of the distributing conduitsusually is kept free from deposits, either by mechanical or by hydraulicmeans. For example, to clean the bottom mechanically, scraper blades aresuspended from the arms and rotate with them adjacent the bottom, movingsolids deposited on the floor of the basin to a depression or sump, fromwhich they are Withdrawn. Hydraulic sweeping of the bottom areaunderneath rotating distributing conduits has been disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,673,181.

When the basin is circular, such mechanical or hydraulic sweeping can beeffected by relatively simple means, but when the rotating mechanism isinstalled in a noncircular cornered basin, such as a square basin,cleaning the area outside the circular path of the distributing armsposes a serious problem. Various auxiliary corner scraping devices havebeen used in connection with mechanically cleaned basins, all of whichhave in common that they involve relatively complicated structures.

The present invention is designed to provide simplified means forcleaning the corner areas of a noncircular basin, which can be used inconjunction with mechanical as well as hydraulic sweeping of thecircular area below the rotating conduits. To this end I provide anoutlet port at the outer end of some or all of the rotating distributingconduits so that liquid is discharged outwardly therefrom over the areasoutside the circular path.

lf liquid were allowed to discharge from this outlet port during theentire path of rotation of the conduit, the liquid would strikeviolently against the basin wall when an arm passes along the wall, andthe resulting d ft boil-up would carry considerable disturbance into thequiescent clarification zone. I therefore provide valve means which areautomatically operated to close the outlet port as the distributingconduit passes along a wall of the basin, and to open it as the conduitpasses an area outside its rotary path.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to thedrawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional view of the lowerportion of a basin with rotary distributor arms utilizing the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the valve assembly ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3--3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a partial diagrammatic plan view of rotary distributor armsutilizing a modied valve assembly.

The liquid treating basin 10 diagrammatically shown for purposes ofillustration in Figure l has a bottom 11 and four upstanding,substantially equal walls 12, 13, 14 and 1S at right angles to eachother. Filis 16 are provided in lthe corners formed by the basin walls.An inlet well 17 receives the liquid to be treated through an inletconduit 18. A sump 19 is provided in the bottom 11.

A plurality of liquid distributing arms or conduits 25 are rotatablysupported in the basin by any suitable means. As shown in Figure l, theconduits 25 extend from the inlet Well 17 across the basin 1t). Whilesix conduits 2S are shown in the drawing for purposes of exemplication,a greater or smaller number can be used, depending on the size of thebasin. In the diagrammatic showing of Figure l it may be assumed thatthe inlet well is rotatable and driven by any suitable means, not shown,and that the conduits 2S are afxed to, and rotatable with, the well.However, the conduits 25 can be supported by other means, such as, forexample, a rotatable member surrounding the inlet Well and receivingliquid therefrom, as shown and described in United States Patent No.2,673,181.

The length of the conduits 25 is such that they are in proximity to thebasin walls when they pass their center portions. The conduits 2S are inhydraulic cornrnunication with the inlet well 17 through their innerends, and have liquid discharge oriiices 26 which are suitably sized andspaced along the conduits to provide for a substantially uniformdistribution of liquid overthe area served. Solids depositing onthebottom 11 are moved to the sump 19 either by Scrapers, not shown, whichmay be attached to the distributing conduits 25 and rotate with them, orhydraulically by directing the dis-y charge from the conduits 25downwardly so as to create an inwardly sweeping current of liquid whichmoves the solids to the sump, as described in United States Patent No.2,673,181.

As shown in Figure l, some of the arms 25 have closed outer end walls27, While others are provided with a port 28 in their outer end wall 27through which liquid can discharge. Preferably, alternate arms will befitted with closed ends and with ports, respectively. To provide a highdischarge of liquid from the end ports, the arms with such portspreferably have a reduced number'y of orifices 26 or may not have anyorifices.

To prevent liquid discharging from the ports 28 against a wall of thebasin, a valve member 30 is provided for each port, and means forautomatically holding the valvev member seated on the port while theouter end of the respective arm travels in proximity to a Wall, and forholding it unseated while the arm approaches and passes a corner-area.As clearly shown in Figure 1, the arm a travels in proximity to the wall14 and its port 28 is.closed by `valve member` 30. Arm 25b .is justleaving a corner area and approaching wall 13. lts valve member isstillopen but will be closed after avshort further clockwiseA travel. `Arm25C is passing the corner area between walls 15 and 12 and, accordingly,its valve member 30 is unseated and will remain unseated until thc armhas reached the proximity of wall 12.

The means for automatically seating and unseating the valve member areshown for one conduit in detail in Figures 2 and 3. As there shown, afulcrum bracket 32 is aixed to the conduit 25 and provided with a slot33. An arm is pivotally supported from the conduit 25 by a pin 36 whichpasses through the slot 33 of fulcrum bracket 32. One end of the arm 35`is bifurcated, as shown in Figure 3. A roller 37 is mounted between thefork ends of the arm 35, and is free to revolve about its axis.

The valve member 30 is pivoted on the roller arm 35 intermediate theroller 37 and the fulcrum point of arm 35. A clevis 38 is 'pinned to theother end of roller arm 35.

Fixed to the conduit 25 is a spring guide 40 provided with an opening 41through which a spring rod 42 passes. One end of the spring rod 42 isrigidly connected to the clevis 38 and is held in place by means such asa nut 43. A compression spring 45 is placed upon the spring guide andbears with one end against the spring guide and with its other endagainst an adjustable spring seat 46, which passes over the spring rod42. The spring seat 46 is adjusted along the free end portion of the rod42 and held in place by an adjusting nut 47 and a locking nut 48. A stop49 is provided to limit the movement of the arm 35.

In operation, when the outer end of a conduit 25 provided with a port 28is adjacent to one of the walls of the basin, such as conduit 25a inFigure l, the respective roller 37 engages the basin wall and holds itsarm 35 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conduit 25, asshown in full lines in Figure 2, against the force of the spring 45,which, in this position of the arm 35, is compressed between the springguide 40 and the spring seat 46 and urges the arm 35 to swing about itsfulcrum point and unseat the valve member 30. As long as the arm 35 isin this position, the valve member 30 is trmly seated on the port 28,and no liquid is discharged through the port.

As the conduit 25a continues to rotate clockwise from the position shownin Figure l, the distance between the outer end of the conduit and thewall 14 increases. soon as this distance is sufficiently large that theroller 37 is no longer in contact with wall 14, the compression springexpands and swings the arm 35 about its pivot to the position shown indotted lines in Figure 2. In

this position of the arm 35 the valve member 30 is I unseated, allowingliquid to be discharged through the port 28 over the bottom of therespective corner area of the basin to sweep it free of deposits.

The valve assembly shown in Figure 4 is somewhat simpler with respect tothe valve opening means, but has the same valve closing means as shownin Figures l to 3. As in Figures l to 3 the assembly includes an arm 35pivotally supported on a fulcrurn bracket 32 atiixed to the conduit 25,a valve member 30 supported on the arm 35 and closing the port 28 of theconduit 25 when the arm is at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofthe conduit 25, as shown at the left of Figure 4, and a roller 37mounted at one end of the arm 35 for rolling engagement with a wall ofthe basin while the conduit travels along the wall.

In this embodiment an extension spring is used for opening the valve andis fixed with one end to the end of arm 35 opposite the roller 37, andto a bracket 56 on the conduit 25 with its other end. The spring 55 isextended when the arm 35 is in valve closing position.

As soon as the roller 37 does not contact a basin wall, dueto` theconduit 25 passing a corner area, and` therefore does not hold the arm35 in valve closed position, the spring 55 contracts and swings the arm35 about its pivot to valve open position, as shown at the right ofFigure 4.

Both embodiments of the invention provide simple means for sweepingcorner areas of noncircular basins, and thus solve a longstandingproblem.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modilications of thedevice shown and described herein can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it will be understoodthat I do not wish to limit myself to the exact structural details shownfor purposes of illustration but not of limitation.

I claim:

l. In a basin of the type described, a conduit rotatable about the axisof said basin and having an inlet for liquid at its inner end, adischarge port at the outer end of said conduit, an arm pivotallysupported from said con` duit, a valve mounted on said arm in suchmanner as to close said port in one position of said arm, a memberrotatably carried by said arm for rolling engage ment of a basin wallwhile the conduit travels with its outer end in proximity to said basinwall, said member, when engaging said basin wall, holding said arm invalve closed position, and a spring operatively connected to said armand urging said arm to swing about its pivot to valve open position.

2. In a basin of the type described, a conduit rotatable about the axisof said basin and having an inlet for liquid at its inner end, adischarge port at the outer end of said conduit, an arm pivotallysupported from said conduit, a valve mounted on said arm in such mannerto close said port when said arm is at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of said conduit, a member rotatably mounted at one end of said armfor rolling engagement of a basin wall while the conduit travels withits outer end in proximity to said basin wall, said member, whenengaging said basin wall, holding said arm in valve closed position, anda spring operatively connected to the other end of said arm and urgingsaid arm to swing about its pivot to valve open position.

3. In combination with a liquid distributing conduit for a non-circular,cornered liquid treating basin, said conduit being rotatable about thevertical axis of said basin in spaced relationship to the bottom of thebasin and having a liquid inlet at its inner end and liquid outlet meansbetween its inner and outer ends, a discharge port at the outer end ofsaid conduit, said port forming a valve seat, a valve member closingsaid port when seated on said seat, and means for holding said valvemember seated while said conduit travels along a side of said basin andfor unseating said valve member while said conduit passes a corner areaof said basin, said means comprising an arm supporting said valve memberand having a valve closed and a valve open position, said armbeingpivotally supported intermediate its ends from said conduit, a rollermounted on one end of said arm and adapted to Contact the sides of saidbasin and to hold said arm in valve closed position while the conduittravels along said basin sides, and a spring operatively connected tosaid arm and adapted to swing said arm through an angle about its pivotto said valve open position when said roller is out of contact with aside of said basin.

4. In a noncircular, cornered liquid treating basin having a bottom andfour upstanding walls and means for collecting solids deposited on saidbottom and withdrawing them from said basin, a plurality of distributingcon; duits rotatable about the vertical axis of said basin, each conduithaving at its inner end inlet means for liquid to be treated inhydraulic communication with a source of Vliquidrto be treated, some ofsaid conduits having a discharge port at their outer end, thecombination with each discharge port of a valve assembly comprising avalve member adapted to close said port, an arm supporting said valvemember, said arm being pivotally supported from said conduit, a rollercarried by said arm and, while said conduit moves along a basin wall,engaging said wall, said arm holding said valve seated on said port whensaid roller engages successive walls of said basin, and a springoperatively connected to said arm and adapted to swing said arm throughan angle about its pivot to valve open position when said roller is outof contact with a basin wall.

5. In a noncircular, cornered liquid treating basin having a bottom andfour upstanding walls and means for collecting solids deposited on saidbottom and withdrawing them from said basin, a plurality of distributingconduits rotatable about the vertical axis of said basin, each conduithaving at its inner end inlet means for liquid to be treated inhydraulic communication with a source of liquid to be treated, some ofsaid conduits having liquid discharge means between their inner andtheir outer ends, each of the other conduits having a discharge port atits outer end, the combination with said other conduits of a valveassembly for each of their discharge ports, said valve assemblycomprising a valve member adapted to Close said port, an arm supportingsaid member, said arm being pivotally supported from said conduit, aroller carried by said arm and engaging a wall of said basin While saidconduit moves with its outer end in proximity to said basin wall, saidarm holding said valve seated on said port while said roller engagessuccessive walls of said basin, and resilient means operativelyconnected to said arm and effective to swing said arm about its pivotand unseat said valve when said roller is out of contact with a basinwall.

6. In a noncircular, cornered liquid treating basin having a bottom andfour upstanding walls and means for collecting solids deposited on saidbottom, a plurality of distributing conduits rotatable about thevertical axis of said basin, each conduit having at its inner end inletmeans for liquid to be treated in hydraulic communication with a sourceof liquid to be treated, some of said conduits having a discharge portat their outer end, the combination with each discharge port of a valveassembly comprising a valve member adapted to close said port, an armsupporting said member, said arm being pivotally supported from saidconduit, a roller mounted at one end of said arm and engaging successivewalls of said basin while said conduit moves along said walls, said arrnholding said Valve seated on said port when said roller engages a wallof the basin, a rod pinned to the other end of said arm, a spring guideaflixed to said conduit, said rod passing through said spring guide, aspring seat positionable along the free end portion of said rod andmovable therewith, and a compression spring between said spring guideand said spring seat.

7. In a basin of the type described, a conduit rotatable about thevertical axis of said basin, said conduit having a liquid inlet at itsinner end adapted for hydraulic cornmunication with a source of liquid,a port in the outer end of said conduit, a valve member adapted to beseated on and close said port, an arm supporting said valve member, saidarm being pivotally supported intermediate its ends from said conduit, aroller rotatably mounted on said arm on one side of its pivot point forengagement of a basin wall while said conduit travels along said basinWall, and an extension spring connected with one end to said arm on theother side of said pivot point, and to said conduit with its other end.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,141,503 Street June 1, 1915 1,457,794 Piper June 5, 1923 2,238,024Linch Apr. 8, 1941 2,348,123 Green et al. May 2, 1944 2,518,570 RenaultAug. 15, 1950 2,525,842 Thompson et al Oct. 17, 2,673,181 Hughes Mar.23, 1954

